Bridge 6th Language Arts
Mrs. Clary
Swift Creek Middle School
2008 – 2009 Grading Scale: A – Outstanding = 90 – 100 B – Above Average = 80 – 89 C – Average = 70 – 79 D – Below Average = 60 – 69 F – Failure = 0 – 59
ASSIGNMENTS: are due on the assigned dates. Late work will not be given full credit. NOTEBOOKS: You will be required to keep a notebook throughout the year. Notebooks will be checked periodically and checked for neatness and content completion. OUTSIDE READING (Annotations): You will be required to read one novel per nine weeks outside of the classroom. The novel may be of your choosing (with approval by me). You will be expected to plan, carry out, and document your independent reading. This assignment will count as one test grade for each nine week grading period. PROJECTS: Assignments may often take the form of a project and may relate to grammar, literature, writing or a combination of all three. Project grades are typically given the same value as a test. DAILY WORK/PARTICIPATION/COMMUNICATION: Each student is given a participation grade equal to one test grade at the beginning of each grading period. Points are deducted based on daily participation in class activities and assignments including being prepared for class with all necessary materials and writing assignments in the planner.
General Course Overview
Writing – You will practice expository and persuasive writing in preparation for Writes Upon Request. You will also practice writing for speaking purposes and you will be expected to participate in the Tropicana Speech Program. Grammar – You will learn to write clear, correct sentences and become familiar with the eight parts of speech. You will practice constructing sentence diagrams, and be tested on your grammar knowledge. Literature – You will explore novels, short stories, and possibly poetry. Novels and short stories that we will be reading this year are Peter Pan, Murder on the Orient Express, The Bear (William Faulkner) and To Build a Fire (Jack London). Another novel may be added at a later date. You will have a year-long reading assignment (annotations) Technology – some assignments may require the use of computers for the purpose of word processing and internet use. Time will be made available in school for this purpose but access to a home computer would be helpful (not required). The school computer lab is open to students for school related work (not game playing) before school two mornings each week and two afternoons each week. Creative and Critical Thinking – you will learn a variety of strategies to help you become more skilled in planning, decision-making, evaluating, categorizing, and other types of critical thinking. You will also learn skills associated with creative thinking, and be able to apply both creative and critical thinking to problem solving solutions.
All assignments will be explained in detail as they are given. Each assignment will also be posted on my web page. Students and parents are welcome to ask questions regarding any assignment.
Bridge 6th Language Arts
LONG RANGE PLANS
Swift Creek Middle School2008 – 2009
First Nine Weeks: Peter Pan by James M. Barrie
Novel Study
Use summer reading assignment to teach the interpretation of literature and annotation format.
Setting
Characterization
Plot
Theme
Style
Short Story - To Build a Fire by Jack London
Another selection as yet undetermined
Elements of a short story
Second Nine Weeks:
Continue with Short Story
Persuasive writing – elements, technique, purposes for writing, audience, and persuasive language
Tropicana Speech – development of topic, understanding audience, editing and revisions,
presentation vs. performance
Third Nine Weeks:
Grammar
Language Mechanics
Sentence diagramming
Parts of speech
Fourth Nine Weeks: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Analysis of characters, setting, plot, theme, etc.
Table of Contents
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Course Syllabus
Bridge 6th Language Arts
Mrs. Clary
Swift Creek Middle School
2008 – 2009
Grading Scale:
A – Outstanding = 90 – 100
B – Above Average = 80 – 89
C – Average = 70 – 79
D – Below Average = 60 – 69
F – Failure = 0 – 59
ASSIGNMENTS: are due on the assigned dates. Late work will not be given full credit.
NOTEBOOKS: You will be required to keep a notebook throughout the year. Notebooks will be checked periodically and checked for neatness and content completion.
OUTSIDE READING (Annotations): You will be required to read one novel per nine weeks outside of the classroom. The novel may be of your choosing (with approval by me). You will be expected to plan, carry out, and document your independent reading. This assignment will count as one test grade for each nine week grading period.
PROJECTS: Assignments may often take the form of a project and may relate to grammar, literature, writing or a combination of all three. Project grades are typically given the same value as a test.
DAILY WORK/PARTICIPATION/COMMUNICATION: Each student is given a participation grade equal to one test grade at the beginning of each grading period. Points are deducted based on daily participation in class activities and assignments including being prepared for class with all necessary materials and writing assignments in the planner.
General Course Overview
Writing – You will practice expository and persuasive writing in preparation for Writes Upon Request. You will also practice writing for speaking purposes and you will be expected to participate in the Tropicana Speech Program.
Grammar – You will learn to write clear, correct sentences and become familiar with the eight parts of speech. You will practice constructing sentence diagrams, and be tested on your grammar knowledge.
Literature – You will explore novels, short stories, and possibly poetry. Novels and short stories that we will be reading this year are Peter Pan, Murder on the Orient Express, The Bear (William Faulkner) and To Build a Fire (Jack London). Another novel may be added at a later date. You will have a year-long reading assignment (annotations)
Technology – some assignments may require the use of computers for the purpose of word processing and internet use. Time will be made available in school for this purpose but access to a home computer would be helpful (not required). The school computer lab is open to students for school related work (not game playing) before school two mornings each week and two afternoons each week.
Creative and Critical Thinking – you will learn a variety of strategies to help you become more skilled in planning, decision-making, evaluating, categorizing, and other types of critical thinking. You will also learn skills associated with creative thinking, and be able to apply both creative and critical thinking to problem solving solutions.
All assignments will be explained in detail as they are given. Each assignment will also be posted on my web page. Students and parents are welcome to ask questions regarding any assignment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long Range Plans
Bridge 6th Language Arts
LONG RANGE PLANS
Swift Creek Middle School2008 – 2009
First Nine Weeks:
Peter Pan by James M. Barrie
Novel Study
Use summer reading assignment to teach the interpretation of literature and annotation format.
Setting
Characterization
Plot
Theme
Style
Short Story - To Build a Fire by Jack London
Another selection as yet undetermined
Elements of a short story
Second Nine Weeks:
Continue with Short Story
Persuasive writing – elements, technique, purposes for writing, audience, and persuasive language
Tropicana Speech – development of topic, understanding audience, editing and revisions,
presentation vs. performance
Third Nine Weeks:
Grammar
Language Mechanics
Sentence diagramming
Parts of speech
Fourth Nine Weeks:
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Analysis of characters, setting, plot, theme, etc.